New Scottish animal health body suggested
Image: BBC
President of the National Farmer's Union of Scotland (NFUS) Nigel Miller (pictured) has spoken on the provision of animal health and welfare safeguards in Scotland and has publicly questioned whether a new public body should take control in these areas.
Mr Miller argued that a dedicated team at governmental level was required to drive through change, keep the country ahead of any legislative changes and ensure that systems required to be compliant with European standards should remains so in event of the necessity that Scotland should require funds from EU animal health reserves. He also praised the success of the stakeholder approach adopted in Scotland which proved helpful in tackling the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in 2007 and Bluetongue, although he did acknowledge that resources were limited in nature.
“The arrival of Schmallenberg virus on these shores helps focus the mind on the current level of resources we need to properly deal with such a threat,” stated Mr Miller.
“This is a vector born virus for which the diagnostics are poor and there is no available vaccine. Across five member states, hundreds of farms, including 29 to date in South East England, are suffering still births and deformities in calves and lambs and we are yet to identify how readily the virus may over winter.”
“If we were to look at the other challenges coming at us – New EU Animal health laws, sheep and cattle EID, cattle psoroptes, TSE roadmap, food chain information, antimicrobials. Is our current stakeholder approach robust enough to deal with these?”
“Having finally seen the budget for animal health and welfare matters devolved, we now have the opportunity to consider if we need a new animal health and welfare body for Scotland to strengthen policymaking and delivery. This is a model that has been successfully taken up in the Republic of Ireland.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
